A Teen’s Take: Jeffrey-Paul Patterson on getting up early to study his faith

“This is my fourth year of early morning seminary and to get up at 5 a.m. Monday through Friday, week after week, is more of a blessing than a burden. Yes, it may be early, but you are sacrificing that little bit of sleep for a gospel-filled lesson every day that uplifts you and helps the day go smoother with a more positive outlook. It’s like putting on the “whole armor of God,” so you can be prepared to take on whatever the day may throw at you.”

Age: 17

School: Northeast High School, senior

Parents: Jennifer and Paul Patterson

Favorites:

Book: “House of Night” novels

TV show: “The Vampire Diaries”

Movie: “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”

Music: Country and rock

Hangout: Movies

Role model: Keith Urban

Extra: Patterson is a member of the Pride Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a two-year member of the Northeast High Southern Harmony Show Choir, which took first place in April at a festival in Anaheim, Calif. He is also a two-year member of the NHS JROTC for which he was the school’s Cadet of the Year in 2011 and is the executive officer this year.

William Taylor

Assistant People editor